The man who has been looking after the Nottingham council house clock for 32 years is calling time and taking a well deserved retirement.

David Lyon, 75, has been the custodian of the council house which involves manually winding up the clock mechanism once a week since 1985.

Mr Lyon has been responsible for for keeping Nottingham on time with the unmistakable sound of Little John chiming on the hour.

He has climbed the 77 steps into the clock tower for the last time this morning (Friday September 22) at 8.30am, to wind up the mechanism which operates the clock and bells beneath the council house dome for the final time.

Council house clock custodian David Lyon pictured alongside the bells in the clock tower.

A Derbyshire company called Smiths of Derby will be taking over the maintenance of the clock from now on.

Mr Lyon explained why he thinks the council house clock and Little John is unique.

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He said: "It is considered to be the best set of clock bells in the country. The main bell here is Little John. It is 10.5 tonnes and on a clear day you can hear it seven-and-a-half miles away down the Trent valley.

"It's got a beautiful tone - far better than Big Ben because Big Ben was cracked when it was put in and has never been altered. It has rather a tinny sound unlike Little John which is mellow."

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A certificate marking Mr Lyon’s long service to the city of Nottingham will be placed in the clock tower and a copy presented to him by the lord mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Mike Edwards.

Mr Edwards said: “Keeping the council house clock, and therefore Nottingham, running on time for 32 years is a huge responsibility and we’re very grateful to David for his dedication and expertise.

Inside the clock tower at Nottingham Council House

“Climbing all the steps to the clock room and then winding the mechanism is a real work-out which has clearly helped to keep him fit all these years – but we understand that it’s now time for him to put his feet up.”